In taking a deeper look at the Post's "salon" scandal, Carr learns from Weymouth that there will be a note to readers on Sunday, with the publisher accepting blame. “I take full responsibility," she said in an e-mail to the Times. That's a stronger statement than Thursday's comments, where Weymouth, like Brauchli, focused more on the "flier", and less on the substance of what was being planned.

Such a note will perhaps clear up some lingering issues, as the L.A. Times reports that Weymouth personally invited Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper and Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe — moves that call into question whether this was just the marketing department run amok. (Brauchli told me Thursday he had no idea who was invited or accepted). The L.A. Times reports that those invited guests weren't told this salon was designed to generate revenue. Apparently, they didn't get the flier asking for $25,000 to $250,000 from potential sponsors.

And regarding news organizations cashing in on their name, I have a piece up now on the practice (which extends further than the Post).

For embarrassed Washington Post executives — reeling from what the paper's own ombudsman called a public relations "disaster" over a flier promoting a "salon" for lobbyists to mingle with prominent newsmakers— there must be a sense of "Why us?"

The fact is the Post's clumsy effort to make money on its brand name and market its access to the powerful was a belated effort to follow in the steps of at least two other prominent news organizations: the Wall Street Journal and the Economist magazine.

The Journal, for instance, is charging a $7,500 for its two-day CEO Council in November, an elite gathering that will include the paper's top editors and high-profile speakers like Tony Blair, Rupert Murdoch, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. And for a few thousand dollars, the Economist can open the door to intimate off-the-record meet-and-greets with world leaders.

These events illustrate how the basic transaction — charging big fees to special interests to arrange private, special-access encounters with powerful people — that caused the Post this week to be excoriated is a more endemic practice than many people in political and media circles realize. Some watchdogs hope this week’s Post scandal will help put an end to a hard-to-defend practice by revenue-hungry news organizations.

Tom Rosenstiel, director of Pew's Project for Excellence in Journalism, said he thought the Post flier raised a red flag for news organizations to be wary of entering into a financial arrangement with people that you're covering.

"One has to ask," Rosenstiel said, "Is the amount of money you might generate from this worth damaging that bond with your readers?"

Reader Comments (6)

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In other words, the Washington Post is trying to lie its way out of this scandal. Is anyone surprised?
Does anyone take seriously Ms. Weymouth's "The dog ate my homework" explanation?
And isn't "Pay for Play" the norm for the Chicago Democrats who staff the Obama administration?

Meanwhile, Joe Jackson says his son, Jesus Christ II, has risen from the grave. Tickets go on sale Monday for $100 each. Michael will bless you for a mere $29.99 and Jesse Jackasson says he and his Apostles will appear again on CNN for another month long rant on how Jesus wasn't spit compared to Michael (Jesus II). Whitey beware, Michael Jackson has risen! One fairy tale or another, what's the difference?

Similar to another commenter, I too have been focused on the comments to the WaPo apology. It seems that when Ms Weymouth attempted to sell access for cash, she willingly gave up the good name of her family business. One will do a lot in the pursuit of a buck these days. Regarding Mr Calderone's comments about the WSJ and Economist events, I find a world of difference between an institution selling access to sitting politicians and bureaucrats and those who round up and pay those already on the speaking circuit (Tony Blair, etc) and sell seats to hear them speak. The latter seems to me to be completely kosher. The former is selling your integrity. Big difference.